Bars and restaurants change fast along Federal Boulevard — but a transformation on Saturday may have set a record. Early in the afternoon, a sign on 1703 Federal promised the “grand opening” of El Patron Sports Bar in the space that had turned into El Luchador last summer. But that…
I thought I was hallucinating when I flew into Denver late last Sunday night and ran past a tiny grove of aspen trees on Concourse A on my way to the train. Turns out, I had just had a close encounter with one of Denver International Airport’s latest amenities: “Wish…
The long-awaited Avanti Food & Beverage opens at 11 a.m. today at 3200 Pecos Street, in a LoHi spot that features a terrific view of downtown. And that’s not all: This modern food court packs in seven restaurant concepts from seven different chefs into shipping-container kitchens on two floors with…
The Cherry Creek Shopping Center turns 25 this August, and it’s getting a grown-up restaurant as a birthday gift: 801 Chophouse, a link in a Midwest-based chain owned by the 801 Restaurant Group. The first 801 Chophouse opened in Des Moines in 1993; the group also has the Pig & Finch…
Mark Antonation is no stranger to adventurous eating. And when a recently returned from Peru and extolled the quality of the Andean nation’s cuisine, including alpaca, he started looking for spots where he could find that delicacy here. He located alpaca bondigas on the website of Pikkas — but sadly,…
No sooner had we lamented the disappearing dive bars of Denver when one of our favorites popped up in the news. Nob Hill Inn, which won our Best Dive Bar award in 2009 and Best Jukebox honors this year, is now definitely a contender for Best Customer Service — because…
Denver home sales reached a record high in June, according to the Denver Metro Association of Realtors. “Despite the slight cooling in the market, June still set records in home prices and closed dollar volume, as the lack of inventory available in the Denver-area over the last eighteen months is continuing…
Where are the true dive bars in this city? Since we published our updated list of the Ten Best Dive Bars in Denver a year ago, a couple of our favorites have closed. And last week Rosa Mia Inn, winner of our Best Dive Bar Happy Hour in the Best of…
A century ago, there were no free schools for would-be students over the age of eighteen. Emily Griffith changed that. The longtime Denver Public Schools teacher and two-time deputy state superintendent of schools had a dream of starting a school that was open to everyone, regardless of age, income or previous…
Last week we named the Ten Best Places for Late-Night Eats in Denver, and the response was immediate. Where was Jerusalem? Breakfast King? Chubby’s? And the inclusion of Mary Jane’s on the list made it a “joke,” says one reader. Adds James: You should rename this the best late-night hipster places in Denver…
Emily Griffith’s story deserved a happier ending. After giving so much to so many — she founded the first free adult-learning institution in the country, the Opportunity School — she retired in 1933 and moved to a cabin up in the mountains. And there the founder of the Emily Griffith…
Denver diners love breakfast, and brunch could be the official meal of the city. This week Gretchen Kurtz reviews Four Friends Kitchen, a worthy newcomer in the breakfast/brunch/lunch arena. And a longtime favorite with fans of morning meals is adding another link: Lucile’s is coming to Evans and South Ogden…
Last week Chris Utterback tried the happy hour at Bayou Bob’s, which has been serving up Cajun food in downtown Denver for almost thirty years. The dishes are hot stuff, the drinks are stiff and the good times definitely roll here. Says Jeff: Bayou Bob’s is a good place to drink and…
With development wiping out many of the favorite spots around Denver, our nostalgia cup is overflowing. Bree Davies poured out plenty of memories in My Denver, My Dream for How to Keep It Great, and that included shopping at local businesses, such as the two Marczyk Fine Foods stores or Pete’s…
Unlike at the original Boulder location, the Denver outpost of Zoe Ma Ma, a downhome Chinese-food concept that Gretchen Kurtz just reviewed, includes an optional 15 percent “Sustainability Initiative Fee” on all tabs. Owner Edwin Zoe says the fee helps him pay his employees a living wage. But the concept has been fodder…
Zoe Ma Ma, which Gretchen Kurtz reviews this week, gets compliments for the setup at its new Denver location, as well as for its downhome Chinese fare. But one thing isn’t drawing raves: a 15 percent sustainability initiative fee that’s added to all tabs unless a customer specifically opts out. Owner…
Rebel Restaurant is coming to RiNo — specifically 3763 Wynkoop Street, the former home of several dive bars, including Fat Bros, Wynkoop Grill and Hospoda. But owners Dan Lasiy and Bo Porytko are planning to put the focus on the kitchen. “We want to be food first, bar second,” says…
After several stops and starts, Blue Pan Pizza finally opened last week at 3930 West 32nd Avenue, where it’s now serving several kinds of pizza, including Detroit-style. But is that just too much of a good thing in pizza-heavy Highland? Says Jeff: We have enough pizza. And no one will ever…
Littleton Taco House — one of only three locations in a homegrown chain that got its start in 1958 — has been closed for weeks since a roof-repair job turned into a major project. The eatery occupies a mid-century modern building that Colorado preservationists want to save — and Mexican…
Even before summer officially started, our great green chile debate of 2015 heated up across the Southwest, with an Albuquerque TV station reporting on the fiery feud and Top Chef winner and Blackbelly Market owner Hosea Rosenberg weighing in. (He comes by his preference for New Mexico’s green chile naturally: He…
For more than two decades, Taste of Thailand served up some of the town’s best Thai food from a small storefront in Englewood. But with that building slated for demolition, Noy and Rick Farrell started looking for a new location — and found a great one at the corner of…
When Westword decides to put on a show, we really put on a show! Our 21st annual Westword Music Showcase — which will fill venues across the Golden Triangle on Saturday, June 20 — will include a real class act: Two of this year’s MasterMind awards, including one going to…
